Police warn drivers to slow down or pay up
Speed Emphasis Patrols
Law enforcement agencies across the state are warning drivers to slow down or pay up.
This Friday, officers and state patrol troopers across the Tri-Cities and Yakima will start conducting speed emphasis patrols.
State troopers say speeding is only second to driving under the influence for causing fatal crashes and serious injuries.
Police officers say if you're driving 30 miles an hour, it takes 48 feet to come to a complete stop.
But if you're going just five miles an hour above that, it will take you another 13 feet to stop.
Officers say that extra space could make a huge difference if a child or bicyclist pops out in front of you.
"Each jurisdiction will decide where they want to display their officers based on collision statistics. Where do we have the greatest problem, where are we having complaints of speeding, where are we having lots of collisions or fatalities" said Sgt. Ken Lattin, Kennewick Police Department.
More than 40% of all fatal crashes in Washington between 2006 and 2008 were related to speeding.
Most traffic deaths in Washington occur on rural roads, not on freeways.
The emphasis patrols will continue through Sunday, August 7th.
Officers say a good portion of the extra patrols will be used during the boat race weekend, which is the last weekend of this month.
The average price of a speeding ticket in Washington state is $156.
But depending on how fast you are going, you could end up paying as much as $411.